After months of negotiations, the UK and EU have agreed on a new post-Brexit trade deal, with talks still continuing on a youth mobility scheme.

Maverick Drinks has announced the introduction of Bols Blue 1575 to its portfolio, as the liqueur launches in the UK for the on and off trade from this month. 

Jack Daniel’s owner Brown‑Forman has announced the start of its own distribution business in Italy to bring its portfolio directly to Italian consumers for the first time. 

French gin brand Gibson’s has introduced its first gin and tonic in a can, created with Gibson’s London Dry Gin and tonic water.

The UK and India have agreed a new trade deal which will see tariffs on gin and Scotch whisky fall to 40%.

Women Leading Rum has announced the expansion of its organisation to now include those involved in spirits, becoming Women Leading Rum & Spirits.

From July, spirits protected by geographic indicator (GI) status will see current fees associated with the Spirit Drinks Verification (SDV) scheme replaced by a lower flat rate.

Johnson Brothers has entered into the Texas market with the acquisition of Maverick Beverage Company, a leading distributor of fine wine and spirits.

Saga Spirits, a new whiskey company from Wes Henderson, co-founder of Angel’s Envy, has entered into a distribution agreement with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits for its portfolio of whiskey products.

Independent Scottish distiller Eden Mill has completed commissioning of its new distillery, with both gin and single malt whisky now being produced on-site.

Monarq Group and Familia Torres, the Spanish wine and spirits producer, have announced a new regional distribution agreement for Torres Brandy and El Gobernador Pisco.

Diageo has exchanged majority ownership of the brand rights for Cîroc vodka in North America, for majority ownership of tequila brand Lobos 1707.

Stock Spirits Group has announced its acquisition of The Drinks Company, a UK-based independent spirits importer and distributor.

IQ Spirits, a new distributor dedicated to premium independent spirits in France, has announced its launch.

The Boatyard Distillery has announced a new partnership with Banfi Vintners to become the exclusive sales agent in the US for its Boatyard Double Gin. 

Campari Group will sell its production facility in Australia to local canning and bottling business Garage Beverage Manufacturing.

A Diageo India chief believes that the company has ambitions to "build a portfolio" of craft spirits in India.

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has been named the new education partner for Equal Measures, the UK-based non-profit organisation dedicated to delivering intersectional diversity in the drinks and hospitality industries.

At the country's first Bar Summit, Diageo India asserted that the tequila category's growth has shown no indication of slowing despite the country's high tariffs on imported beverage alcohol.

Suntory Spirits, manager of Suntory Group’s alcoholic beverage business in Japan, has announced a total investment of ¥6.5 billion in the Suntory Osaka Plant.

Alcohol sales across the US are shrinking, according to NielsenIQ, with off-premise beer, wine and spirits (excluding RTDs) all losing ground.

Korean beverage producer, HiteJinro, has announced the development of a new production facility in Vietnam.

Belfast-based Drinksology Kirker Greer Group (DKG), has appointed Gordon Buchanan as its new regional director for Europe, EMEA and Global Travel Retail (GTR).

Anora has expanded its footprint in the Baltics by establishing Anora Lithuania, established on 13 November, with commercial operations set to commence in 2025.

Brown-Forman has announced that Campbell P. Brown will step down as chair of its board of directors in July.

Anora has completed the sale of its Swedish schnapps brand Snälleröds to Malmö-based beverage company Saturnus AB.

Following the success of his Champagne and rosé wines, actor Idris Elba announced the addition of Porte Noire Cognac to his growing portfolio.

Diageo has introduced a new global division to combine ‘luxury assets’ into one portfolio including brands such as Brora and Port Ellen.

Living Souls, a new Scottish spirits brand specialising in small batch and single cask releases, has announced its launch.

Hamish Smith provides the annual analysis of how this year’s World’s 50 Best Bars list has panned out by city and country

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) has sounded an alarm over the potential return and doubling of the EU’s retaliatory tariff on American whiskey in a new report.

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), has announced the appointment of Regine Lee MW to its board of trustees.

New data from the IWSR, the global authority on beverage alcohol data and intelligence, has revealed the US beverage alcohol market continued to shrink in the first seven months of 2024, with volumes declining more than expected.

African Originals, the beverage company behind brands such as Kenyan Originals, African Originals and 5.8 has raised USD$2m in a funding round led by Phoenix Beverages Limited, Mauritius' largest beverage company. 

Diageo North America has announced its acquisition of Ritual Zero Proof Non-Alcoholic Spirits (Ritual).

Campari Group has acquired a minority stake in the owner of single malt whisky brand Bunnahabhain.

Suntory Oceania has begun production at its AU$400m manufacturing facility in Australia, to produce the company’s RTD brands from next year.

Campari Group chief executive, Matteo Fantacchiotti, has announced his resignation after only five months in the role.

Isle of Man drinks producer The Fynoderee Distillery is expanding its operations to mainland Europe in a move to boost the island’s growing food and drink sector.

Pernod Ricard has announced the acquisition of a minority stake in Almave, the non-alc blue agave-based spirit brand, co-founded by Formula One champion, Lewis Hamilton and Casa Lumbre’s Iván Saldaña. 

Whisky Live Paris celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, returning to France’s capital with new addition to the 2024 show, The Agave Patio, paying tribute to the growing interest in the tequila and mezcal market. 

Toku Saké has announced the appointment of Enotria & Coe as its exclusive distributor in the UK.

US, Colorado-based Golden Moon distillery has ceased operations after 16 years, due to being unable to find a buyer for the business.

Anora has reached an agreement to acquire the Blomberg glögg brand, along with its recipes and intellectual property rights, from Orkla Denmark.

US-based whiskey brand Uncle Nearest has announced the acquisition of Square One Organic Spirits.

Wiltshire-based distillery Ramsbury, known for its London Dry Gin and Estate Vodka, has begun preparations to release English whiskies. 

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by German supermarket chain Aldi over a ruling made last year which stated the discounter copied Marks and Spencer’s festive gin bottle design.

Kirker Greer Spirits has announced its expansion into the Singaporean market from early spring, partnering with distributor The First Pour.

Ready-to-serve cocktail brand Whitebox Cocktails has partnered with brand-building agency, Artisan Spirits, to expand its international distribution.

Spirits distributor Speciality Brands is adding Takamaka to its rum portfolio, alongside signing an exclusive partnership with Chichibu Distillery, taking over from Speciality Drinks.